J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1990 Sep;19(8-9):1123-1128.

Prognostic Parameters in Moderate or Severe Diffuse Axonal Injury

• Lee SK
• Park K
• Kim YB
• Min BK
• Hwang SN
• Suk JS
• Choi DY

Abstract

A retrospective study 40 patients with moderate or severe diffuse axonal injury which is defined as posttraumatic coma for over 24 hours without mass lesions or ischemic insults was conducted in order to identify prognostic parameters. The sign of hypothalamic damage and motor reactivities of 40 patients were reviewed and compared to the outcome. The results were as follows ; 1) The ratio of male to female was about 3 to 1 and the peak incidence was at the first decade. 2) Of abnormal brain stem signs, fever of central origin was observed at the early posttraumatic phase and correlated with nonrecovery of consciousness(P<0.05). 3) Of abnormal brain stem signs, abnormal ADH secretion was significantly correlated with nonrecovery of consciousness(P<0.005). 4) Abnormal motor reactivity to pain was significantly correlated with nonrecovery of consciousness(P<0.005). 5) In the group of recovery of consciousness, initial Glasgow coma scale in 40 patients with moderate or severe DAI was significantly correlated with their outcome(P<0.005).

Keyword

Diffuse axonal injury; Prognostic parameters; Hypothalamic damage; Motor reactivities; Outcome

MeSH Terms

Brain Stem
Coma
Consciousness
Diffuse Axonal Injury*
Female
Fever
Glasgow Coma Scale
Humans
Incidence
Male
Retrospective Studies